GBCORP · BUY-SELL BUSINESS · AUSTRALIA

Buy or Sell a Business in Australia

GBCORP sells and buys Australian businesses in transactions up to USD 20 million, from owner-run firms in Sydney and Melbourne to franchises, manufacturers and service businesses in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and the regions. We run each deal from valuation to settlement, with our local partner network of lawyers, accountants and tax advisers.

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Deals up to USD 20 million · Fees on request · We speak your language

Why Australia

Australia offers a stable, well-regulated market of more than 27 million people, strong consumer demand and close links to Asia. Its owner-run businesses, franchises and specialist manufacturers attract buyers from Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the US and the UK.

Many baby-boomer owners are planning their exit, and the small business capital gains tax concessions can make a well-prepared sale especially rewarding.

Buying? Our guide on what to consider when buying a business in Australia covers the essentials.

Selling your Australian business

For owners who want the right buyer, a defensible price and a tax-efficient exit.

Valuation you can defend

Normalised earnings and a market-tested price that holds through the buyer’s due diligence.

Small business CGT concessions

We work with your accountant so the sale is structured to use the concessions you qualify for.

Australian and international buyers

Trade buyers, private equity and investors from Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the US and the UK, screened before they see your name.

Confidential process

An anonymous profile first; full figures only under a signed NDA.

Buying a business in Australia

For entrepreneurs, investors and international companies looking for an established Australian business.

Deal sourcing

Businesses in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, including off-market opportunities.

Due diligence

Financial, tax, legal, lease and employee-entitlement checks, coordinated with Australian lawyers and accountants.

Franchises

Franchise purchases with the franchisor’s approval, disclosure document and lease terms reviewed before you commit.

FIRB approval

We check early whether a foreign buyer needs Foreign Investment Review Board approval and plan the timetable around it.

How an Australian deal runs with GBCORP

Six stages, one point of contact. Most sales settle in six to nine months.

01 · Valuation and preparation

We review the accounts, normalise earnings and prepare the sale documents.

02 · Confidential approach

An anonymous teaser, then an information memorandum to screened buyers under NDA.

03 · Offers and letter of intent

We compare offers on price, structure and certainty, then agree heads of terms.

04 · Due diligence

The buyer’s advisers review finance, tax, leases, contracts and employee entitlements.

05 · Contract and approvals

The sale agreement is signed, with landlord, franchisor and FIRB approvals as conditions where needed.

06 · Settlement and handover

The price is paid at settlement, ASIC is notified of a share transfer within 28 days, and staff and customers are introduced.

Australian rules that shape the deal

The points that decide structure, timing and cost in an Australian transaction.

FIRB. Foreign buyers need Foreign Investment Review Board approval for interests above set monetary thresholds, at any value for national security businesses, and for many acquisitions of land.
Share transfers. A Pty Ltd share transfer is recorded in the company’s register of members, and ASIC must be notified within 28 days.
State duty. Share sales in private companies are generally free of duty unless the company holds enough land to trigger landholder duty; asset sales can attract duty on certain assets depending on the state.
GST. A business sold as a going concern is GST-free when buyer and seller agree it in writing and the conditions are met.
Small business CGT concessions. Qualifying sellers can reduce or defer capital gains tax through the 15-year exemption, the 50% active asset reduction, the retirement exemption and rollover.
Employees. Under the Fair Work Act’s transfer of business rules, employees who move to the buyer can carry over their industrial instruments and accrued entitlements.

Local partners, one point of contact

GBCORP runs each Australian deal end to end with our local partner network: lawyers, chartered accountants and tax advisers. We work with owners and buyers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Canberra.

We speak your language, and we work with buyers and sellers from across the world. We handle transactions up to USD 20 million; fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request.

Questions about buying and selling in Australia

The questions we hear first, answered plainly.

How long does it take to sell a business in Australia?

Most business sales settle in six to nine months from valuation. Finding the right buyer, due diligence and landlord or franchisor approvals take most of that time.

Do foreign buyers need FIRB approval to buy an Australian business?

Only in some cases. Approval is needed above set monetary thresholds, for national security businesses at any value, and for many land interests. Most smaller private business purchases fall below the thresholds, but we check every deal early.

What are the small business CGT concessions?

Four concessions that can reduce or defer capital gains tax for qualifying owners: the 15-year exemption, the 50% active asset reduction, the retirement exemption and rollover. Your accountant confirms which apply.

Can I buy a franchise business through GBCORP?

Yes. We help buyers assess franchise resales, including the franchisor’s approval, the disclosure document and the lease, before they commit.

What size of business does GBCORP handle in Australia, and what does it cost?

We advise on transactions up to USD 20 million, from owner-run businesses and franchises to established regional firms. Fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request after a confidential first conversation.